New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-26
FIGHTING CONVICT LABOR COMPETITION.
woRKINGMEN SUBMIT A BILL THAT WOULD BREAK

DOWN THE STATE ACCOUNT system.
ALBANY. Jan % (Speciab.-The Trades Union Knights
of Labor and workingrnens smblies plainly desire
that the prisons and pentenares should longer
selfsupporng. and that taxes should be levied for
the support OF the prisons Step by step they adj
vancing toward the position that the conVcs shoud do
no work Through their demands the contract labor ss
TEN overthrow II had brought the prisons from
point where they cost the taxpayers OF the State
100000 annually, to the high plano OF main
tanning themselves with not one cent OF cost
to the taxpayers. Nay. they source OF slight
income to the State instead OF being burden to it. This
apparently ideal condition Of things attacked with
the argument that the cOnvcts competing with the
abor of workngmen. Tho contract system being over
thrown the superintendent OF Prisons fell back the
estate account" system. Under that system tho State
Treasury becomes 1t capitalist who backs the
Superintendent of Prisons with ample money 10 manu-
facture articles such clothing. saddery etc. and then
permits him sell the product for the benefit Of tho
State Mr. Baker the superintendent OF Prisons has
quired nearly 50 100000 under this system yearly and
has had to guide tho business Of the prisons
with all the foreihough of great manufacturers
To and everyone elses surprise he has made the
system success He has surplus for the fiscal year
ending September 80, 1886
Now the worKingInen are resolved to break down the
"state account system as they did before tho con
tract labor" At the recent session OF the Work
ngrnens Assembly In this city bill framed for this
purpose. To-day 1t was Introduced IN the Senate
70 prevent the state prisons or peneniiarics from
taking any United states prisoners from other STATES
forbds the practice which gave tho prison managers
just many extra hands In their manufactures The
bill then carefully limits the state Prison aud peDlten
iay convcts TO certain kinds OF labor and In ORDER To
prevent any article such suit OF clothes made by
them from being sold outside OF the prison. It forbds
this being done The bill would force the Superinten-
dent OF Prisons employ the convcts only unremun
erative that could not possibly escape report
ing deficit OF 100000 annually The important section
OF the bill Is given below:
All cOnvcts employed quarres
repairing and constructing roads ami high
manufacturing without machinery all articles
and such prisons or other penal
repsiug such PRISONS and all persons conhncn lin any
Of this state shall be employed m manufat rim with
machinery such articles be useful and no. ssy
their comfort convenience and well beng for to and
benefit OF tho poor who are county charge or In The erection
the buildings where they
conbued and any OF such prisoners as
the shern shall direct shall De employed ing the county
lands or IN other labors TO produce and provide
food Tor thei own support and that OF the who
charge upon the county.
Another section provides that prisoner shall be
PEELED 10 labor more than eight hours day. "The rest
Of the time, declares sha be given such repose
recreation the Sheriff shall direct" Another section
says that no prisoners shall be allowed work at any
trade where his labor the production profit
labor Is armed out contracted given sold any per
SOL or persons whatsoever